Ruler



Patented Mar. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RULER Moses Elias Pettersen, Visalia, Calif. Application June 26, 1941, Serial No. 399,896

1 Claim.

This invention relates broadly to rulers, and an object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will serve, not merely as a ruler, but also as a device to assist stenographers and others doing copywork in maintaining the correct position on the work of which a copy is being made.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a ruler so equipped as to facilitate a movement of the ruler over the work sheet such as a sheet having typewritten or other matter thereon, and of which a copy is being made, or a drawing sheet upon which a draftsman is engaged in making a drawing.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the features of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof with certain parts broken away and shown in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the device, and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view therethrough. 9

Referring more in detail to the drawing it will be seen that in accordance with the present invention I provide a conventional ruler 5 which may be of any suitable length and of any desired shape in cross-section.

To the opposite ends of the ruler 5 there are secured, through the medium of nails .,or other fastening elements 6, suitably shaped bearing plates 7.

The plates I extend beyond the rear or heel edge of the ruler 5 and at said extended ends are apertured to accommodate pintles 8 and 9 provided on the opposite ends of a roller Ill.

The roller It may be of any suitable diameter and may be formed of solid or hollow metal depending upon the desired weight of the roller.

Also if desired the roller !0 may be provided with a surface of rubber or suitable composition material in order to enhance the frictional qualities of the roller.

Disposed about the pintle 9 of the roller is a coil spring II that at one end bears against the roller I ll and at an opposite end bears against the adjacent plate 7 so as to exert a braking action on the roller to the end that the device will not readily shift from its desired position on the work.

At the pintle-equipped end 8 thereof the roller I 0 is provided with an axial socket l2 into which is threaded a machine screw I3 that serves to retain the pintle 8 journaled in the aperture provided therefor in the plate 1.

Thus it will be seen that the roller I0 is rotatably supported on the ruler 5 and will move over the work sheet in a manner as will permit the working edge of the ruler be maintained in contact with the sheet.

It will also be apparent that the device may be readily shifted by placing a finger or two on the roller at about the center of the same and by proper manipulation of such finger, or fingers cause the roller to revolve for shifting the location of the device on the work sheet. Upon the removal of the finger, or fingers from the roller, the device will remain in the position to which moved, spring ll creating a suificient drag on the roller to act as a brake for the device.

It will be apparent that a device of this character may be used to advantage by draftsmen, typists, and wherever there is a need for a device to locate lines and figures in copying work, reading figures, drawing parallel lines, or performing work of a similar nature.

It is believed that the many advantages of a device of this character will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

It is also to be understood that while I have herein illustrated and described what is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the in- .vention, I am well aware that in practical fields minor changes may from desire or expediency be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

In a device of the character described, an elongated member, bearing plates secured to said member at opposite ends thereof and extending laterally beyond one edge of said member, a roller having pintles at the ends thereof journaled in said bearing plates and supported thereby in spaced parallelism to said edge of said member, and a coil spring sleeved onto one pintle between one end of said roller and an adjacent bearing plate and urging the other end of the roller against the other bearing plate to provide a friction brake causing a drag on said roller.

MOSES ELIAS PETTERSEN. 

